More than an interested observer of Sunday’s Fight of the Year contender between Khamzat Chimaev and Gilbert Burns, Belal Muhammad recognises what he needs to do to secure that UFC welterweight title shot next.
Basically, an even greater display this weekend against Vicente Luque in the main event at UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas.
“It depends on my type of performance,” Muhammad tells The National from Vegas. “I have got to go out there and outperform the guys last week. I have got to make them want to give me the title fight.
“This is going to be my fourth top-10 ranked opponent in a year. This is going to be my third top-five opponent in a year. None of the other guys are doing that. I am the only one stepping up and fighting the best of the best in the division, and I am here to show I belong at the top of the division. So have to keep going out there and proving myself.”
Muhammad, who slipped a spot in the rankings because of the undefeated Chimaev’s ascent into the top five this week, has been riding a hugely impressive win streak of his own: he is unbeaten in his past seven fights, with six victories and one no contest. His professional MMA record stands at 20-3.
Currently the welterweight division's No 6-ranked challenger, on Sunday morning UAE time, Muhammad takes on the man directly above him in the standings. It represents a rematch of their 2016 encounter, when Muhammad lost to Luque (21-7-1) via first-round knockout in New York.
Clearly, with only one defeat in 12 UFC appearances since, and that more than three years ago, the Chicago-born competitor is much improved since then. Add in the extra motivation of avenging the Luque loss, and it makes Muhammad a dangerous proposition.
“I am a very bad loser,” he says. “I am very motivated for this fight and it has pushed me. That fight changed my career, made me the person I have become. I feel like I had to go through that to become the person I am today.
“It made me that much stronger, and push that much harder, and it only made me better in general, so sometimes you have to go through the downs to get the ups. There are some guys who come into the UFC and win five fights in a row and are fighting for the title right away, then there are guys who have to go through the trenches, the doubting yourself, the doubts from the fans.
"And then you just keep winning and winning and winning. And that makes a title that much better once you actually get there.”
Inspiration can be extracted, too, from Chimaev-Burns just past.
“That was an amazing fight – and a motivating fight,” Muhammad says. “If you watch that fight and you are not motivated to push even harder you have a problem, because both of those guys left it all there in the cage.
“It was one of those things where people are saying the hype isn't real and Khamzat isn't this boogeyman. People overthink things, but he is a human being. Some people get tired, some people get rocked, people underestimated Gilbert way too much in that fight.
That would be amazing right there. To have two Muslims headlining a card in Abu Dhabi would be huge
Belal Muhammad on the prospect of fighting Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 281
“Both showed great things: Khamzat showed he had a chin and heart; Gilbert showed he belongs at the top of the division. So respect to both guys after that fight.”
In defeating Burns by a hard-fought unanimous decision, Chimaev lifted his UFC record to 5-0 (11-0 as a professional), yet for the first time in the promotion he was made to work for the victory. The Chechen-born Swede, now the No 3 contender at welterweight, had previously looked unstoppable.
However, such was Burns’ performance that perhaps his rivals, some of whom were previously reluctant to fight Chimaev, could now view him differently. Muhammad, though, doesn’t necessarily agree.
“The fact he is No 3 now, people aren't really going to be calling him out, but some will be saying, 'Ah I would have fought him',” he says. “Everyone is going to come with that same attitude now: 'Dude, I would have fought him, but they just never called me.'
“But for me he is still very good, undefeated, and still showed a lot of great things in that fight. And I want to test myself with him. I still want that fight and want to fight the best guys in the division.
“People are saying he's not what we thought it was, but guys put him on this huge pedestal like a Marvel character. People put so much pressure on him, and expectations can ruin things. But I still think he is a monster, so I don't know why people are doubting him now.”
Although aware he cannot look past Luque – the Brazilian rides a four-fight winning streak – Muhammad says he has already made it known that he wants to compete at the UFC’s return to Abu Dhabi in October, at UFC 281.
Chimaev defeats Burns in all-time UFC classic
Muhammad has experience of fighting in the capital, having defeated Takashi Sato at UFC 242 in September 2019. A practising Muslim born in the US to Palestinian parents, he knows a clash with Chimaev at Etihad Arena would sell.
“That would be amazing right there,” Muhammad says. “To have two Muslims headlining a card in Abu Dhabi would be huge. You hear it all the time with people coming at me saying, 'He's a Muslim, why are you calling him out?'
“But this is sport and we are all fighting for the same thing. As a brother, I love the guy. As a competitor, I want to test myself against him and beat the guy. This is not life or death; this is a sport, and it is about winning the gold. And we both want that gold and both have to go through each other to get there.”
Go through Luque this weekend, and Muhammad can enjoy the remainder of Ramadan looking forward to what the future holds professionally. Training for such a huge fight during the Holy Month has its obvious challenges but the secret, he says, is understanding what to eat, especially when breaking fast.
Even if it can, at times, be difficult.
“I am going to have two weeks after the fight where I can enjoy all those desserts my mom makes,” Muhammad says. “Every night she is making cheesecake and kunafa, and maqluba. And right now I am like, 'What are you doing? Stop!'”
Springtime in a Broken Mirror,
Mario Benedetti, Penguin Modern Classics
The biog
Siblings: five brothers and one sister
Education: Bachelors in Political Science at the University of Minnesota
Interests: Swimming, tennis and the gym
Favourite place: UAE
Favourite packet food on the trip: pasta primavera
What he did to pass the time during the trip: listen to audio books
What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
Company profile
Date started: December 24, 2018
Founders: Omer Gurel, chief executive and co-founder and Edebali Sener, co-founder and chief technology officer
Based: Dubai Media City
Number of employees: 42 (34 in Dubai and a tech team of eight in Ankara, Turkey)
Sector: ConsumerTech and FinTech
Cashflow: Almost $1 million a year
Funding: Series A funding of $2.5m with Series B plans for May 2020
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg result:
Ajax 2-3 Tottenham
Tottenham advance on away goals rule after tie ends 3-3 on aggregate
Final: June 1, Madrid
WandaVision
Starring: Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany
Directed by: Matt Shakman
Rating: Four stars
Your Guide to the Home
- Level 1 has a valet service if you choose not to park in the basement level. This level houses all the kitchenware, including covetable brand French Bull, along with a wide array of outdoor furnishings, lamps and lighting solutions, textiles like curtains, towels, cushions and bedding, and plenty of other home accessories.
- Level 2 features curated inspiration zones and solutions for bedrooms, living rooms and dining spaces. This is also where you’d go to customise your sofas and beds, and pick and choose from more than a dozen mattress options.
- Level 3 features The Home’s “man cave” set-up and a display of industrial and rustic furnishings. This level also has a mother’s room, a play area for children with staff to watch over the kids, furniture for nurseries and children’s rooms, and the store’s design studio.
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Sour%20Grapes
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THE SPECS
Engine: 3-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 424hp
Torque: 580 Nm
Price: From Dh399,000
On sale: Now
Mina Cup winners
Under 12 – Minerva Academy
Under 14 – Unam Pumas
Under 16 – Fursan Hispania
Under 18 – Madenat
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
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The specs
Engine: 5.2-litre V10
Power: 640hp at 8,000rpm
Torque: 565Nm at 6,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: From Dh1 million
On sale: Q3 or Q4 2022
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